Pharmacist's License Suspended for Filling Erroneous Prescriptions

A Rite Aid pharmacist accused of illegally dispensing tens of thousands of painkillers and antianxiety medications has had her pharmacy license suspended for 90 days, according to the Los Angeles Downtown News.

Anne Chung, formerly the pharmacist-in-charge at a Rite Aid in Los Angeles, will be on probation for 5 years, Downtown News reported.

California’s attorney general filed a 41-page complaint that listed several accusations, including that Chung had filled “erroneous or uncertain” prescriptions and failed to use her professional judgment when confronted with customers who showed habitual doctor-shopping tendencies. The complaint also listed an accusation that Chung refilled prescriptions more than 5 times in an amount that exceeded a 120-day supply.

The pharmacist is also accused of transferring controlled substances to another pharmacy for refill but not including the required information necessary to follow federal regulations. The state Board of Pharmacy argued that Chung tried to subvert the investigation by refusing to provide it with the original prescription documents requested.

Los Angeles Police Department Senior Lead Officer Sean Lewis caught wind of the large amounts of painkillers and antianxiety prescriptions that Chung’s pharmacy was dispensing and notified a pharmaceutical inspector, according to Downtown News.

Chung will have to be supervised by another pharmacist if she chooses to serve in the industry following her 90-day suspension and during her 5-year probation period. Her license will be revoked if she violates her probation.